Rick Wilson passed this wonderful story on to us when he attended a retreat at camp this fall.

Rick’s Dad, Walter Wilson, was caretaker of YWCA Camp Cavell from about 1950 to the late 1960's. They used to have family reunions at camp on Labor Day, as the camp was always closed for the winter by then.  Walters father and two uncles helped build some of the cottages and some of the fireplaces at camp. 
 

 His father told him this story about 40 years ago…

Colt Bolts into Lake Huron while Lodge is Built!

Dad was working as a laborer for the Mason (stone worker) that was responsible for building the fire places in the Lodge and probably the Dining Hall.  They used a large horse, (a mare) who was hauling sand and stone on a skid (or wagon of some sort) up from the beach to use in building the fireplaces. The men let the mare have her young colt walking beside her while she worked.  At some point while they were working loading up the beautiful stones and sand the colt had wondered away.  He had walked right out into the lake and had started swimming out to Canada (due east of the Lodge, ha!).  Dad said the colt was a good distance out before anyone noticed it.  When the men saw him they tried shouting at the colt to turn around and come back to no avail.  The mother horse was busy working and pulling the skid so she could not see  her colt swimming away from her in the Lake Huron.  The men got the idea to turn the mare around so she could look out into the lake toward her colt.  When she finally saw her colt she became very upset, pawing at the air and letting out a loud whinny.  The colt heard her from far out in the lake and slowly circled around and turned back and swam to the shore.  The mother and baby had a wonderful reunion and the mare made sure the colt stayed close the rest of the day.  The little colt learned his lesson and during the rest of the job that day the little colt didn't stray away again. 

Grandpa Charlie Ledsworth was in charge at the camp during those days. 

All the wood for building the buildings was cut with hand saws back then in the late 1920's.  Dad said many a carpenter was scolded during the job for not sharpening their hand saws on a daily basis before they arrived on the job.  It's amazing the Lodge & Kitchen still look as good as they do after all these years.

 Historic Camp Cavell Lodge with Ships Bell

It's a special place for sure!__________________________________________________________